Australia's Post-Quantum Cryptography(PQC) Readiness: Challenges and Imperatives

This Podcast discusses Australia's preparedness for post-quantum cryptography (PQC), which is essential to secure digital systems against the emerging threat of quantum computers that could render current encryption obsolete. The discussion highlights Australia's ambitious 2030 deadline for transitioning to PQC, five years earlier than some allies, demonstrating a strong strategic intent to counter the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" threat, where encrypted data is collected today for future decryption. The discussion identifies China as the principal and most imminent threat due to its significant quantum investments and history of cyber espionage. While Australia possesses a robust policy framework and invests in a sovereign quantum ecosystem, its readiness is hampered by a severe cybersecurity skills shortage, the immense cost and logistical challenges of upgrading legacy infrastructure, and the absence of a publicly detailed cost analysis for this transition. Ultimately, dicussion underscores the urgent need for a whole-of-nation approach involving detailed roadmaps, financial planning, and fostering cryptographic agility to ensure a resilient digital future.